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Leach, who was expected to earn $3 million in Baltimore prior to his release, is likely looking for about the same on the open market. Unfortunately for the Giants, they have only about $3 million in cap space, while the Miami Dolphins, who hosted Leach earlier this week, are estimated to be about $17 million under. The Houston Texans, Leach's former team and another reported front runner, also have more space than Big Blue.

The Giants' need for Leach stems from an MCL injury suffered by Henry Hynoski early on at organized team activities (OTAs). It also goes back a number of years, including 2006 when the team had signed Leach to an offer sheet before he returned to the Texans. Since then, the two sides have expressed mutual interest, but the timing was never right (sounds almost like a courtship, doesn't it?).

In the interim, the Giants are going with tight end Bear Pascoe as Hynoski's replacement.

"Bear has done it before," Gilbride said, citing the 2010 season when Pascoe moonlighted for Madison Hedgecock. "Unless the powers that be bring a guy in, we’ll make due."

This is a classic case of the Giants saying ” we like you – this is how much money we can pay you -if all else fails , come back and talk ” Otherwise the Giants will use first fall back at Bear Pascoe or hope that someone else (Cox?) shows enough talent to get the job done . Do the Giants need any of this cap space to sign Cruz or is it built in elsewhere ?

Leach is a difference maker in the run game. The fact that multiple teams are competing for the services of a lowly fullback should give some indication of what his value is. If there is such a thing as an elite fullback in the NFL, this guy is it. Do you really think that it’s a coincidence that the all time leading rusher in the NFL gained many of his yards with one of the game’s best blocking fullbacks blocking for him? Nobody wants to break the bank for any player and wouldn’t advocate it in this case either, but pursuing Leach and doing some cap maneuvering to accomplish it is completely rational.

The fact that they are even sniffing Leach to me means Hank’s injury is worse than initially reported. Bear would be a stop gap for a few games but not the entire season which would get them through Hynoski’s rehab period. I fear he’ll be on the PUP to start at best

This guy is the best fullback in the league. All you need to know about what the Giants think of him is that they actually signed him to a pretty generous RFA offer sheet a few years back. He’s an instant upgrade over a fully healthy Hynoski, and I love me some Hynoski (I’m wearing my Hynocerous t-shirt as I type this).

That being said, there’s simply no way Reese pays enough to land him nor am I certain it would be a wise move anyway. Assuming Hynoski will be back at full strength sometime in the first half of the season, I’m not sure that our team couldn’t be upgraded more by spending the kind of money required to sign Leach elsewhere.

I think Leach was the best FB but not anymore. I respect the Ravens a lot and them letting go of him shows his play has slipped more than many realize in my view. The Ravens know what they are doing which is why they paid him a few years ago and let him go now. Therefore I don’t think Leach is an upgrade for Hynoski. I think the interest in Leach is as an injury replacement. But the continued interest in Leach shows there is real concern about Hynoski and a several have said I think him starting the year on PUP is likely. If we sign Leach I take it as a sign Hynoski could be done for the year because why would Leach sign with other options with teams that don’t have an established FB?

I got the impression with the Ravens view, that they wanted to keep him, they just can’t afford to, especially with the cap situation (courtesy of Mr. Flacco) and they may not view Leach as being a part of the long term future.

I don’t think they view his play as having slipped, and I do think he is the best fullback in football today……but he won’t be in a couple of years.

Personally, I always loved the fullback position, but my kind of fullback is pretty much extinct. I like the Mike Alscott types, the 4 tool fullbacks, who can pass block, run block, catch passes and run the ball. The kind of guys who were/are offensive weapons in addition to being bulldozing blockers.

In a perfect offense, they can bring bash to a ground game and diversify the run game.